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 Day 5: Put on the Armor of God and Be Ready to Stand Strong!Because GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL,
(The Biggest and the Strongest), He can help me with anything.
Read or quote the memory verse. We don't always take advantage of the power God has given us. A young Japanese boy once showed his courage in a very simple but brave way. The Brave Japanese Boy
Some of the other kids considered themselves his enemy, and they were out to get him. They went to the Headmaster of the school one day and accused the boy of "doing something in the way of magic." The Headmaster called the boy in to the office to explain himself. With brave confidence, the boy explained to the Headmaster that he was a Christian and that he had been thanking God for his lunch and asking Him to bless the food. The Headmaster began to cry, and he put his head down on the desk. "My boy," he said, "I too am a Christian, but I was afraid to tell anyone. Now, with God's help, I will try to live as a Christian ought to live." Who do you relate to most, the boy or the Headmaster? What does it mean to truly be a Christian? (Parents: Refer to the 4 Keys 4Kids to help your child understand how to begin life as a Christian.) Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit was going to come, live within them, and give them His power to do whatever He asked them to do.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere -- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.Discover God Bible, (NLT).
The minute you ask Jesus into your life, to forgive your sins, and to help you obey Him, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you. You have His power in you to do whatever He asks you to do! Put on Your Power Tools!God always gives us what we need in order to do what He asks us to do. In the Bible, He tells us exactly what tools we need to be strong. He uses the example of a soldier to show us how these tools protect us and give us strength. I'm going to read Ephesians 6:10-11,13. Listen for who God says is our enemy . . . A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.Discover God Bible, (NLT).
Who is our true enemy? (The devil) What will God's armor help you do? (Stand firm against the devil's schemes.) Let's be clear about what the devil wants. a. The devil doesn't necessarily want to beat up your body. b. He wants to beat up your soul. He wants to discourage you and make you feel bad about yourself. c. He wants to fill your heart and mind with lies and make you doubt God. d. Remember: Once you accept Jesus as your Savior, the devil can't take that away, but he does try hard to make you stop talking with God and hurt your relationship with Him! e. Satan doesn't want you to help others have a relationship with God; and f. He doesn't want you to be happy. If you're happy, others might want to know why... Satan definitely doesn't want that! So let's check out our armor! Ephesians 6:14-17 says: Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's Righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.Discover God Bible, (NLT).
What pieces of armor did you hear talked about in the verses? (NOTE: You can print a picture of a soldier from the bonus activities to point to the pieces of armor to help your kids visualize the principles) Explain each piece as follows: Belt of truth (Knowing what God's truth is and living by it) Breastplate of righteousness (Knowing what God says is right and doing it) Feet ready with the gospel of peace (Being ready to tell others about His message of peace) Shield of faith (Trusting that God really is who He says He is) Helmet of salvation (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior) Sword of the Spirit (Knowing God's Word, the Bible, and reading it everyday. It is our greatest weapon against the devil.) What piece of armor would be particularly helpful for you right now? What is one way you can stand strong (with His power) for God and tell others about Him?
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| A | Activity … Family Fun Activities! |
| B | Bible Times … Exploring God's Word together |
| I | Influencing Others … how can you make a difference? |
| D | Drawing/Drama … exploring your creative side! |
| E | Experience … finding the teachable moments |
The boy attended a school in Nagasaki, Japan, and of the 150 students, he was the only Christian. Every day before he ate his lunch, the young boy dared to fold his hands and ask God's blessing before he ate.
Why does it matter?
Talk with God and Stay Connected